SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State softball returns home for its first weekend of 24 consecutive home games on Thursday, Feb. 12. In hosting the States Up Invitational, Texas State will play five games in four days, beginning with #18 Clemson on Feb. 12 at 5 pm.
The Bobcats will play two games against Wichita State and games against #9 Arkansas and Clemson in addition to the home opener against Clemson. Live stats will be available at txst.com/stats for all games of the Stats Up Invitational and the Bobcats game against Clemson and Friday, Feb. 13
th against Wichita State will be on ESPN+.
Fans can purchase tickets, including tournament passes and single game tickets, at txst.com/tickets. For games on Saturday, Feb. 14, due to events going on in Strahan Arena that will occupy parking in lots adjacent to the University Events Center, fans are encouraged to park in lot P10W, the lot behind the baseball and softball complex.
For full tournament schedule, relevant links and additional information for Texas State's home tournaments in 2026, fans are encouraged to visit txst.com/tournamentcentral for all necessary information.
2026 States Up Invitational Schedule
Bobcat Softball Stadium | San Marcos, Texas
For the most updated game information, visit txst.com/tournamentcentral
Thursday, Feb. 12
Clemson at Texas State | 5 pm |
Live stats |
ESPN+
Friday, Feb. 13
Arkansas vs Wichita State |
Live Stats
Wichita State at Texas State |
Live Stats |
ESPN+
BYU at Texas State |
Live Stats
Clemson vs Arkansas |
Live Stats
Clemson vs BYU |
Live Stats
Saturday, Feb. 14
BYU vs Arkansas |
Live Stats
Arkansas at Texas State |
Live Stats
Wichita State vs Clemson |
Live Stats
Wichita State vs BYU |
Live Stats
Sunday, Feb. 15
Arkansas vs Clemson |
Live Stats
Wichita State at Texas State |
Live Stats
GAME NOTES
- Texas State is coming off a 34-19 campaign which included a Sun Belt Conference Regular Season Championship and were named Preseason Favorites in the Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll. Texas State returns 96.8% of its innings pitched and 75.5% of its at-bats from the 2025, championship winning season.
- The Bobcats opened their season at the Kajikawa Classic hosted by Arizona State. The team went 3-2 there in opening weekend, with wins over RV Northwestern, Memphis and Toledo. The Bobcats will now return home for over a month, with 24 straight games in Bobcat Softball Stadium.
- Texas State returns 16 players from last year's team, including pitchers Maddy Azua, Emma Strood, Analisa Soliz and Abigail Jennings as well as field players Megan Kelnar, Karmyn Bass, Sydney Harvey, Keely Williams, Aiyana Coleman, Kate Bubela, Kat Zarate, Bailee Slack, Mel Reeves, Abby Garza, Emily Fishand Mayson Garrett.
- Redshirt junior Kat Zarate redshirted the season in 2025 with an injury and has returned for 2026.
- Head coach Ricci Woodard will enter her 26th season at the helm of Texas State softball.
- A coach with 14 conference championships and 11 NCAA Regional appearances, Woodard enters the season with 881 career wins.
- Woodard is in the top-20 among active Division I coaches in career wins. Woodard is one of just 11 of the top 25 winningest head coaches to accumulate all her wins at one program.
- Texas State has won four-consecutive Sun Belt Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year honors, with Azua being recently named the 2026 season award recipient after earning the honor in 2025. Additionally, Aiyana Coleman was named Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year. The pair and senior Megan Kelnar were named Preseason All-Conference.
- Texas State's roster contains eight seniors, including four which have played all four seasons of their careers at Texas State.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Clemson
All-time series: First meeting
Arkansas
All-time series: Series is tied 1-1
Last meeting: Feb. 6, 2025, Arkansas won 3-1
Streak: TXST L1
Wichita State
All-time series: Texas State trails 6-11
Last meeting: Feb. 12, 2023, Texas State won 7-4
Streak: TXST W1
Memphis
All-time series: Texas State leads 3-2
Last meeting: March 11, 2011, Texas State won 2-1
Streak: TXST W1
